Jerusalem – Just after President Donald Trump wrapped up his Middle East trip, Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly criticized the US and Israel on Saturday, labeling Trump a liar and calling for the annihilation of Israel.
Khamenei stated, “Trump claimed he wants to use his power for peace. That’s false.” He added, “Some remarks made during the US President’s visit are so trivial that they barely deserve a response. They reflect poorly on the American people.”
Since the 1980s, the US has recognized Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism. Khamenei, who has a history of anti-Western and anti-Semitic sentiments, referred to Israel as a “cancer tumor,” which is a significant US ally in the region.
The Trump administration has categorized Khamenei’s regime as a leading promoter of anti-Semitism globally.
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Khamenei did not hold back in targeting Sunni Arab nations allied with the US, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
“This unsuccessful model is being pushed again, asserting that Arab states wouldn’t last long without US backing. But that will fail, and the US will exit the region,” he said.
The 86-year-old cleric claimed that Washington’s goal is to make Sunni Arab states dependent on them. “The US wants these nations to feel they cannot operate independently. That’s their underlying message,” he expressed.
Khamenei accused the US of exploiting its resources to launch attacks on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
“The US leveraged its power to exacerbate the suffering in Gaza and armed its local proxies,” Khamenei remarked. Hamas, designated by the US as a terrorist group, is a strategic ally of the Iranian regime and staged an assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, including many Americans.
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During his visit to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, Trump labeled the Iranian government as a primary source of Middle Eastern turmoil.
He remarked, “The Iranian regime is among the largest and most destructive forces causing unimaginable hardship in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, and Yemen,” while speaking in Saudi Arabia.
Alileza Nader, an expert on Iranian affairs based in Washington, stated to Fox News Digital that “Iran faced significant military setbacks from Israel.” He noted that many Iranians desire to see the regime toppled, and Trump holds considerable leverage in negotiations, which could effectively restrict Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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Trump expressed his desire to establish an agreement with Iran to cease its illicit nuclear weapons development. During his remarks, he urged Iran to abandon any intentions of creating atomic weapons.
“While we are erecting magnificent skyscrapers in Jeddah and Dubai, Tehran’s landmark from 1979 is crumbling to dust,” Trump commented. “[Iran is] led by a corrupt system that contributes to drought and dwindling rivers. They will capitalize on the resources,” he added.
